Index device



Jan. 31, 1928.

W. H. HOLMES mvnx mavxcs Fild Sept. 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 599.33 32 7 34 uh a BY AIGIORNEY Jan. 31, 1928.

W. H. HOLMES INDEX DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Winn Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,471

w. H. HOLMES INDEX DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1923 5 She sh et 3 INVENTOR "v A TORNEY Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

'WILLIAM H. HOLMES, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

INDEX DEVI GE.

Appfication filed September 28, 1923. Serial No. 665,503.

This invention relates to index devices and with respect to its more specific features, to what is commonly known as avisible index.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device of the character stated in which a series of cards are mounted upon a suitable supporting element such as a backing sheet, this mounting bein accomplished referabl' b Y the use of supporting members.

It is a further object of the invention to furnish an index device in which the parts will be so retained with respect to each other i5 as to virtually preclude their being accidentally detached.

A still further object resides in the construction of an article of the type aforementioned in which all of the parts may be readily detached from each other, if it desired to do so, aside from the fact that in using the construction of the present invention each of the cards may readily be inspected, all sides of the same being available for the reception of data.

Ai'iother object is that of furnisl'iing an index device in which the parts are of e i'rcmely simple construction and consequently capable of quantity and economical :21 production so that all objections in this connection are avoided.

Still another object is to be predicated to the designing of a device in which certain of the parts heretofore liable to be damaged :1... will be protected.

Other objects of the invention will be in. part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described. and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and. objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the acconnaanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of an index device embodying the improved construction of the present invention,

Fig. 2- is a sectional plan view taken along the line 22 and in the direction of the arrows indicated in Fig. 1.

F ig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 in the direction of the arrows also indicated in Fig. 1, i

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one form of the card-supporting members which may be employed in connection with the device,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clip as shown in Fig. 3 and prior to its application to the supporting member or card,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a form of clip which may also be used to advantage in certain instances,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the device as shown in Fig. 6 and illustrating the same as applied to a supporting member,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a different form of clip than that shown in Figs. 6 and 7,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the clip shown in Fig. 8 and illustrating the same as applied to a card and to a supporting member,

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but shows a slightly different form of backing sheet, supporting member and mode of attachment of the card to the supporting member,

Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 1l-1l and in the direction of the arrows indicated in Fig. 10,

Fig.12 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view talren along the line 12-12 and in the direction of the arrows also indicated in Fig. 10,

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the supporting member as utilized in connection with the construction illustrated in Fig. 10,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the rear of the card with one of the clips as utilized in Fig. 10 applied thereto,

Fig. 15 is an end view to that shown in Fig. let but illustrating the same in association with a double card,

Fig. 16 is a face view of a backing sheet with still another form of supporting member associated therewith,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the supporting member as shown in Fig. 16,

Fig. 18 is a face view of still another of a clip similar Ill "form of index device including St different type of supporting member, cards and clips.

Fig. 19- is a perspective VlQW of the supporting member utilized in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 18, and

Figs. 20, 21, 22, 23 and 2e are views each showing: a portion of a cord applied to a SUPPOI'tlDP; member of that type generally illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 but in each 111- stunce depicting a. different manner of applying the card to the said supporting member.

In the first embodiment illustrated, it will be seem referring purtieuhrrly to Figs. 1. and 2, thutthe reference nun'iero'l indieates a. backing sheet of any desirable uniterial, which is formed in the'present instnnce, with cutout portions 26. Adjacent the inner edges oil each of these cutout portions-the removed numeral 01'' the backing sheet i. bent upon itself to extend flush zig 'ui the rear face of the sheet- :ind has its cd ee bent to extend in on opposite direction thu: prw riding meml'iers inthe nature or '{l'OOYCfti "oils 2?, the purpose of this constriwtion being hereafter brought out.

The index curds forming :1 port oi the derice may be of any suitable type such 1- :tor exumple, :1 single sheet of n'niteriul 28. which is attached to a suitable supporting member herein-utter described. This attachment may be provided by utilizing clips of the type illustrated, for example in Figs. 3 and 5 in which it will be seen that u strip 290i" suitable inuteriul suchas for example metal, has been employed which has one of its ends bent upon itself to provide 21.11ool"-sheped portion, its opposite end. being: extended in the form of it loop, and ii portion 31 lying flush against the outer face of the shank of the llOOl'i' portion of the first end. Thus, it will be understood, {is has been clearly shown in Fig. 3, that the strip nnry be p... through an opening formed in the cord and be disposed in such u manner with respect thereto that the l'ectungulnr portion of the clip thus provided snugly en'ibrucen the curd between the opening and edge thereoil While the loop portion {it of the clip passes around 0. supporting member oi nble type. the outcrend of the strip sen inn" to prevent any occidental di'on 'u e of" the. clip from the said supporting m mber.

An attaching member of this nuture mo be applied toe supporting inen'il'ier of? any desirable type and may be iciuted with any convenient portion thereolf; for exemple, the siii'n 'iortin e; nieml'ior his tube the Form illustrotedin Fi 1 11nd l in whic it will be noted that thc rnie includes three major ports. lfhe cen of ther part? may be in the nature of'a coil rpi. 3Q Wh' b has its outer ends looped one iu-ouud e.

" i it inner end of each of the outer portions.

Both of these outer portions, aside from being intended for use in engagement with the opposite edges of the booking sheet. are sirnilur to ouch other and include a body 2:32 having on inturned inner end 3-1.- Which is connected with one ol the ends o T the spring; 32 ft; ulore brought out. The outer end of each of these portions is preferably bent to provide :1 book Eli) which for the Plll'iflilztl oi stability llittf be relzitircly brood.

These hoolt portions are now brought to have their outer ends extend into the grooves formed in the rui ot the backing --theot, so that the enipportin g' members, together with the citrds worried thereby, are ullnifillftl to the backing; sheet us hos been clearly brought out in Fig. l. in this con ection attention is invited to the tort thut ouch of the ruils 2? bus {111 outer Willi. us shown in Fig. i. so thut the outer end oi the supporting; members. when the letter ure upplied to the bili rlllg sl'ieet, will be purtiully housed and fully protected npguinit mutilu lion such us would occur it the bucking shout were not constructed in this Inonuer. it will be appreciated, attention being invited to Figs. 1, 2t), and Il to :14 that the clips securing the cards to the si'lppiiirting mom here may be r ociuted "with tiny desirei'l portion thereol. For example at; in i i; 1 end 550, the clips LllB shown us cin-irchng the bodies 3?) o'r' the outer ports of the supportinn; members while in liipg. ill the clips cncircle the outwardly t ending portions of the hooloshuped inner e d thereof. In lie-- Inc 22, the record curd socizited with u il'up iiorting n'ien'iber therefor bf, cr-ltendii the body of this cord around the mend in Figure ill the clip; ure shtnrn or disposed :nljuccnt the outer ode-cs oi the nerds zind :ire of the "in shown in l iron 3 nod '47. Finally. as the t .1. lim t. it desired, be :ittuched to the inwardly c.\'- tending; portions oi the outer ends ol the ports of the islil'ijnii'lliw; uwn'ihtr u'hu'uuieulioned.

(lbr'iousli'. when the p in the inunnor shown in curds 2t; ii-i su iportod in with Him. tbut the cards in inli'uiu'e llicrooif llllly be to :t position at which the hue ol? the cord in u u stion is visible in its entirety "tor the purpose o't inspection or the upplicution thereto of :ulditionzil dots. The some is true of the reer time of the cord and it it desired to remove the rind from the support ing member whi h worries-z the some, this may readily be :icci'nnplished by sinu'il mor ing the 'urd with respect to the iill'g'lfltlltlll fi member so that the body ot the bitter rider: between the rectangular portion of the (slip and the outer part 5]; thereoilf until the rurd is tree from the supprn'tino member. l t. however. on opcrritor is desirous: of minor the supporting n'ien'iber this may in turn till be readily accomplished by simply moving the two outer parts thereof away from each other until the hook portion 35 of one or both of the same is fully retracted from its position within the groove 27 subsequent to which this end or both ends of the support ing member may be moved through the cutout parts 26 in order to accomplish the re sultdesired. with the supporting member in the manner shown in F igs. 1 and 20, it will be understood that this operation of the parts will not result in a detachment of the card from the supporting member. On the other hand, if the clips engage the supporting member in the manner indicated in Fig. 21, the inherent tendci'my of the spring 32 to more the outer parts of the supporting members towards each other will result in the outturned portions Si l of the lnner ends thereof being retracted from within the loops of the clips so that a detaching of the supporting inen'iber from the backing sheet and permitting of the parts of the former to assume their normal position, will auton'iatically release the card therefrom. Finally, if the clips engage the supporting member as in Fig. 24, it will be understood that due to the fact that the inwardly extending portions 36 at the outer ends of the supporting member are preferably each longer than the hook portions 35 thereof, the expansion of the supporting member in detaching the same from the backing sheet, will not result in disengagement of the card therefrom, while the subsequent release of the supporting member will merely cause each of the outer parts thereof to move towards each other, this movement being limited incident to the stops provided by the engagement of the bent portions with the clips.

It is obvious that any desirable type of clip may be employed, as for example in lieu of the metallic clips heretofore referred to, a clip fOlll'lGCl of a. suitable fabric may be utilized which, as has been shown in Figs. (3 and 7. is simply a strip of fabric bent upon itself to form a rigid hook portion 37, the ends of this strip being separated as at 38 and engaging the faces of a card in the manner shown, for example, in Figs. 6-7.

in the event that it is found that a clip of this character does not engage a supporting member in a sufficiently tenacious manner, it will be seen that the construction of the same may be altered, as for example to that shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which a strip of similar fabric has been utilized but has been bent to provide a hook portion 40 which has its outer end inturned to provide an offset part 41, a certain portion or portions of this strip being continued to extend substantially parallel to the body there of and to engage as at- 42, for example, op-- posit-e faces of the card 28, these engaging If new the card is associated parts correspondingin function tothat of the parts 38.

It will be obviousthanif desired, the flexible clips illustrated for example in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, may be substituted for the metallic clips in the various associations named and in fact, if desired, the clips may be entirely dispensed with in using a double card, i. e., a card folded upon itself, in that a card of the 39 type may be simply folded around the supporting member as in Fig. 22 and in this position be adequately supported aside from the fact that all of its various faces are accessible for inspection and the application of data thereto.

If it is found, due to manufacturing costs or other reasons, that a supporting member of the type aforedescribed is not desirable in certain instances, the same function may be accon'iplished by utilizingfor example, a supporting member as in Fig. 13, which embraces a flat strip of material 43 incorporating resilient qualities and having one of its ends bent to form a hook 44, its opposite end being slightly inturned as at 45. A supporting member of this type may be applied to a. backing sheet of the character illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or, if desired, the same may be applied to a backing sheet 16 which is formed with no cutout portions but in which the ends of the supporting member directly engage the outer edges of the backing sheet, it being understood that the material of this sheet may be bent adjacent these edges to provide rails 47 corresponding in construction and function to the rails provided by the grooves 27. In using a supporting member of the type shown in Fig. 13, it will be understood that a card may be applied there to in any desirable manner, as for example by associating with the latter, clips of the type shown in F 14 and 15. These clips may each include a pair of portions 49 extending one to each side of the card face and in intimate engagement therewith, the outer ends of the clips in this instance being in the form of tongues 50, extending towards the center portion of the card and capable of application one to each of the tonguese-S in the manner best shown in Figs. 10 and 12. The supporting member with the'card attached thereto in any desired manner, or prior to the attachmentof the card may now have its hook end 4 1 brought to extend around one of the edges of the backing sheet and its body swung to a position par allel to the face of the sheet, at which point, due to the inherent resiliency of the strip, the inturned end 45 thereof will snap past the opposite edge of the backing sheet thus securing the card in position. It is to be understood in this connection, that if a supporting member of the type last described is used, that a further advantage is derived in that when the card is affixed to the same and the supportingmember is in turn appliedto the hacking sheet, none of the partsof the supporting member are visible, as hae been clearly brought out in Fig. 10.

Still another term of supporting member isshoivn in Figs. 16 and l7,this typeot derice possessing the same advantages as those Wl Tch may lfiQFfittlllJlltBtl to the type otsu'pporting member-s shown in Fig. 13 and pea essing the :t'nrther quality of being constructed of wire. More particularly, it wi'll he noted, thatthis supporting nien'iberincludes a body 51 which has each of its ends bent to extendupwardly andinwardly asat downwardly and. outwardly as at 53; rearwardly as at Fri: and lerniinzrting in a hook portion Thus,- thepart EQ o't this supporting mei'nher hears against the trout taoe oi thehaching sheet in; while the rear- Wardly extending portion h t of the said to thus permit o't' the attachn'lent or removal of the supportingmeinher;

Finally, it will he understood thatin the interest of economy or for anyother desired reason. a supporting member may he uti lizcd such, for example, as has been shown in Fig. 19. This member embraces a hody so hai'ii V. hook shaped ends correspond of ing to the ends of the hrst described supporting member. This device may he applied to the haek ingsheet sn'nply hy passing lhw'l'ormer over one of theeuds o'l the latter in such manner that the eilgea ot-the sheet come to lie in the croteh otthmhoolrs 57.

Alan. it. is to he understmal that in l ig. 18;

which illustrates the last deaerihed position of the parts, each or anyot' the cards a lforementioned may carry a second card simple? hy securing to the cards staples 58 which serve to attach hook strips 55) thereto, these strips in turn engaging or iorming a part oi? a strip mountin (30 providing a. pocket tor one edge of a supplemental card til which may he notched as at tiil to accommodate the hool-z stripsu its opposite edgepreiterahly extending helow the tongue or outer end por tion 31, ot clips of the eharacter shown in Figs. 3 and 5, so that all otthe parts are normally retained properly applied with respect to each other althougl'r these parts may readily be moved oi completely detachcd mien-from theiother.

extend at had to Fl". 18, that if desired the supporting member 56 may be of such material that it presents substantially rigid propertiea while the supporting sheet 46 may be flexible, being UnClGI'E-tOOCl that if this is the case, parts may beseparated or appliedto each other simply hyflexing the latter and moving the" supporting memlicr towards or away from the backing sheet;

From the foregoing, it will he oln'iiius that among others; the various ohjects atonenumerated are accomplished audit will he understood that since certain. changes may he made in the ahove article and diiterent emhodin'ienta ot the ilfl'l'i'llilml could he made without departing from the scope thereof, it'is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the ant-ompunrina' drun'in shall he interpreted'as ii luau atirenn d not in a limitingsenuc.

It-is also to he. understood thatthe following claims; are intended to'cowr all'ol" the generic and specific features ot-the invention herein deserihed and all statements of the scope 'o'l' the invention which. an aunatter ol' Having (lest-rifled n invention; what I claim aenew and desire to secure hy Lotti-r3 Patent, is:

1. An index device including, in comhination, a hacking sheet formed with cutout portions. and zi -supporting HIGHllJEPlltlVllig' pare-i extending through said cutout pin-lions and engagingpne of the edges'thercoi.

9. An index device including, in combination; a hacking sheet formed with cutout portions; and a supporting member having parts' extending through said cutout poi tions andengaging one of the'sideedgee thereof.

3. An index deviceincluding, in comhination. afhaclcing sheet formed with cutout portions. and a supporting memher ha ring extending through said cutout portiouu parts facing Mile and engaging the Ulli\\tll(ll V edges thereof.

4.. An index-derive iurzlrnliug, in comhinatiou; a Sllplfllltlllg niemliier comprising a plurality otpart's, eachincluding a hod v and outwardly extendinginner end portiona and inn'ardlyexten din g outer end portions. a card, and means attached to said card and engaging said supporting lllt!lllli!l' for atta hing said card and memher'one to the ()i'xlltl'.

An index device including a. support having opposite and i out"ardflfv-exl entling grooved rails and a cari l-supportingmemher extending across said support. and in- WttlfdljiJBXtelllllllg end lflfil'tlfillf' forming parts ot said mcmher and entering the grooves of said rails.

(lrAn index device, including a support having opposite and rnitwardly*extending ed go portioua, and a on rd=sn iporting men that the Inn

lIltl extending across said support, said member including a body and hook-shaped end portions extending around said edges and sub stantially parallel to its body.

7. An index device, including a support, and a 'oardeupporting member associated therewith, said member including a body comprising a plurality of parts, certain of said parts engaging said support, anotherof said parts consisting of a spring cooperating with said first-named parts to prevent relative movement of said card member and said support.

8. An index device, including a support, and a card-supporting member associated therewith, said member comprisin a pair of end elements having their outer ends bookshaped to engage portions of said support, and their inner ends being also hook-shaped, and a spring extending between and connected with said inner ends to maintain the outer ends in cooperating engagement with said support.

9. An index device, including a clip comprising a relatively broad body of strip material bent to provide a hook-shaped end portion engaging a card, a loop portion beyond said end portion and acconnnoating a card-supporting member, and an end beyond said loop portion and extending substantially flush against the other race of the shank of said hook portion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. HOLMES. 

